The beginning of the year (January and February) is a great time for hiring new talent in most industries. In fact it’s probably the best time to recruit the very best available talent.
Here’s why: During the holidays and especially during the last week of the year many people reflect on their lives and career situations.
- “Am I where I’m supposed to be?”
- “Could I be doing better, make more money?”
- “Am I feeling stale?”
- “Do I feel appreciated?”
“Auld Lang Syne” turns into “now’s my time.”
To savvy hiring and recruitment experts, it’s cherry picking time.
The best candidates wait till right after the holidays to begin looking for newer pastures. (Of course many wait to receive their annual bonus).
January usually starts slowly as people come back from holiday vacations but by the second week of the month, momentum starts building.
Once that happens, New Year’s resolutions are in full gear and great candidates are on the market to make a job change. And if they’re not actively searching, they are much more willing to hear about a new opportunity in a fresh new year.
For hiring authorities these two months are good because companies usually get their new hiring budgets for the year in January, and a lot of the hiring activity that was delayed in November and December can now move forward.
In addition, this is the time of year when the greatest number of decision-makers are in the office together. So getting a “Yes” is much faster in making the decision to hire and to whom a job should be offered.
The availability of top talent in January and February is not just my opinion. It’s a fact based on the sheer number of resumes and phone calls that my firm receives every year during the first quarter of the year.
So, despite the dreary weather in many cities and the post-Holiday blues, it turns out that January and February are not so bad after all. In fact, if you’re looking to add new talent to your team in the New Year, it could be the perfect time to start your search.